Search

This is the sixth of my ten Oscar Predictions posts, and one that will tackle three categories, those honoring the best achievement in Documentary, Foreign Language and Animated films. Here are my predictions.

BEST DOCUMENTARY

Nominees

Exit Through the Gift Shop (Banksy and Jaimie D’Cruz)

Gasland (Josh Fox and Trish Adlesic)

Inside Job (Charles Ferguson and Audrey Marrs)

Restrepo (Tim Hetherington and Sebastian Junger)

Waste Land (Lucy Walker and Angus Aynsley)

Though an upset by Exit Through the Gift Shop is something I could actually see happening, even though Banksy has been banned from attending the ceremonies under disguise (which means now he won’t attend at all), I really want this to go to Inside Job, and I think it just might. Charles Ferguson’s look at what made the recent economic crisis happen is really stunning and spellbinding, and after already having been nominated for another terrific and timely documentary, No End in Sight, I think he’ll get his due.

Should Win: Inside JobWill Win: Inside Job

BEST FILM IN A FOREIGN LANGUAGE

Nominees

Biutiful (Mexico)

Dogtooth (Greece)

In a Better World (Denmark)

Incendies (Canada)

Hors-la-loi (Algeria)

Even though I would personally like nothing more than to see Biutiful pick this one up, I doubt that’ll ultimately happen, that film, though thoroughly masterful, is too dark and moody for many, which means the decision upon it will certainly be divisive, which sucks considering Mexico, with seven previous nominations in the category, hasn’t won this award once, not even when its contenders were Pan’s Labyrinth and Amores Perros.

But yeah, I think Biutiful ultimately won’t pick this trophy up, but rather the race will be between In a Better World and Incendies. The Dutch film probably has more momentum, especially after the Golden Globe win, and will most likely earn Denmark their third win in this field, and as such I’ll pick it as my winner. However, I think Incendies is the better film out of the two, so seeing that one win would be even better.

Should Win: IncendiesWill Win: In a Better World

BEST ANIMATED FILM

Nominees

How to Train Your Dragon (Chris Sanders and Dean DeBlois)

L’Illusionniste (Sylvain Chomet)

Toy Story 3 (Lee Unkrich)

Are we really planning on discussing this one? It’s the biggest no-brainer of the night. Since the inclusion of the Best Animated Film category in the Oscars all seven of the Pixar films released during that time have been nominated for it, with five going on to win the award. Look for the animation house to now make it six for eight with this one.

Les Misérables is a bit too over-the-top and pompous, but it’s still seriously well-made, with a passion and energy that translates to the performances (with one critical omission) even if it doesn’t always do the same with the vocals. Read my review for it here.

Zero Dark Thirty, Kathryn Bigelow’s follow-up to The Hurt Locker is an undeniable masterpiece, a film that’s both disturbing and 100% necessary, the most vital film about post-9/11 America. Read my review for it here.